Gun sight control



33*235- OR 29550;?12 SR 1951 w. H. NEWELL EI'AL 2,550,712

GUN SIGHT CONTROL Original Filed May 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS LLIAM H. NEWELL LAWRENCE 5. BROWN ATTORNEY May 1, 1951 w. H. NEWELL ETAL GUN SIGHT CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 5, 1944 INVENTORS WILLIAM H. NEWELL LA RENCES BR w/v ATTORNEY y 1, 1951 w. H. NEWELL EI'AL 2,550,712

GUN SIGHT CONTROL Original Filed May 5. 1944 4 SheetsSheet 3 fii 3 INVENTORS W/LL/AM H. NEWELL L RENCE S. ROWN A TORNEY MLRWJH K-UL GUN SIGHT CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 5, 1944 3% R E 0 E 0 N WW WNS m T m x A 7 m, 4 .loJO M 545 wL r/ 2 Z ii--- \h ml WM 7 1% [L 9 m w Patented May 1, 1951 'Jtfllkkilli MUUE GUN SIGHT CONTROL William H. Newell, New York, and Lawrence S. Brown, Long Island City, N. Y., assignors to The Sperry Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application May 5, 1944, Serial No. 534,330. Divided and this application March 24, 1945, Serial No. 584,632

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to automatic gun control systems of the type in which a gun mount is driven in response to moven l engoofnaaprccessed. gyroscope at controlled rates'of train and elevation and the gun is automatically given a lead or deflection with respect to the line of sight, both in train and in elevation, which is a function of the range, the speed of the observer and the rates of train and elevation.

This application is a division of the copending application of Newell, Tear and Brown, Ser. 534,330 filed May 5, 1944, which is now abandoned, for Automatic Gun Control System, and relates particularly to the mounting for the sighting and computing mechanism.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of the above type having novel and improved details of construction and features of operation.

Another object is to provide a system of the above type which is suited to production and operation under military conditions.

Another object is to provide a system of the above type which is of wide application to various types of turrets on shipboard, planes, land vehicles, fixed anti-aircraft guns and the like.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the nature of the invention will be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a gun turret showing the control mechanism in front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the control mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a control box and associated mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the differential mechanism for the range shaft.

Certain specific terms are used herein for convenience in referring to various details of the invention. These terms, however, are to be given an interpretation commensurate with the state of the art.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the mechanism is shown as comprising a pair of guns I0 and H carried in cylindrical gun mounts I2 and I3 respectively which are pivoted for movement in elevation about outer horizontal trunnions It and I5 respectively and inner horizontal trunnions I6 and I1 respectively. The outer trunnions I4 and |5 are carried by outer brackets I8 and I9 respectively. The inner trunnions I6 and I1 are carried by inner brackets 21) and 2| respectively.

The gun mounts I2 and I3 are adjusted in elevation by means of gears 25 mounted upon an elevation shaft 25 and engaging circular racks 21 on the gun mounts I2 and I3. The elevation shaft 26 carries a gear 28 which is driven by a pinion 29 actuated by a hydraulic motor 33 mounted on a support 32 which extends between the inner brackets 20 and 2|. The elevation shaft 25 is mounted in brackets 3| attached to the support 32.

A control box containing the automatic computing mechanism, the gyro-control mechanism and the range finder is mounted on brackets 4| and 42 (Fig. 3), which are journalled in trunnions 43 and 44 respectively carried by the inner frame members 20 and 2|. The box 40 is constrained for movement in elevation with the gun mounts I2 and I3 by a pair of linkages comprising links 45 pivotally mounted by pins 46 to the gun mounts I2 and I3 and telescoping into links 41 which are pivoted at 48 to the brackets 4| and 42. The links 45 are latched to the links 41 by pins 49 (see Fig. 4) which may be withdrawn to permit the links 45 and 41 to be separated so as to disconnect the box 40 from the gun mounts I2 and I3. The box 40 is counter-balanced by springs 53 connected between the pins 54 on the brackets 4| and 42 and stationary pins 54a carried by the inner brackets 20 and 2|.

Referring to Fig. 4, the pin 49 is shown as mounted in a bracket and held downwardly by a pressure spring 5|. The pin is provided with a knob 52 to provide manual means for withdrawing the pins to disconnect the links 45 and 41 as above mentioned.

Referring again to Fig. l, a pair of control handles 55 are mounted on a horizontal shaft 400, journalled in a bracket 56 which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis on a block 51 containing the hydraulic pressure control valves for controlling the precesslng pressures. The block 51 is mounted on a bracket 58 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is attached to a transverse plate 59 extending between the inner brackets 28 and 2| The transverse plate 59 also carries a pump 3 block 60 on which the main motor BI is mounted and to which valve blocks 62 and 63 are connected. The valve blocks 62 and 63 control the supply of fluid from the pump to the hydraulic elevation motor 30 and to a hydraulic train motor 65 (Fig. 1) driving a gear 66 which cooperates with a rack 61 on a stationary frame ring 68. The train motor 65 is mounted on a bracket I which is attached to the frame II of the movable turret. The frame II supports the outer brackets I8 and I9 and carries across beams I2 which support the inner brackets 20 and 2| and the transverse plate 59. The frame II includes an outer annular member 15 carrying rollers I6 which engage in an annular track II on the stationary frame ring 68. The train motor 65 causes the entire turret to rotate inside the track II. A seat 80 for the gunner is mounted on brackets 8|, Figs. 2 and 3, attached to the crossbeams 12.

The general arrangement of the apparatus is such that the gunner rotates the handles 55 about a horizontal axis in accordance with variations in elevation to be applied to the sight for causing it to follow the target in elevation and rotates the bracket 56 about its vertical axis in accordance with variations in train which are to be applied to the sight. These rotations of the handles 55 actuate suitable valves within the valve block 51 to generate pressures which are proportional to the amount and rate of movement of the handles 55 in train and in elevation. Thesepressures are applied to hydraulic control mechanism within the control box 40 as precessing forces to cause the gyroscope to precess in the desired direction and at a rate depending upon the precessing forces. The precessing pressures also actuate the rate input linkages of the automatic computing mechanism within the control box 40.

These precessing forces then cause the gyro scope and the sight which is associated therewith to move in train and in elevation as desired. This movement of the gyroscope in turn actuates the follow-up valve mechanism within the control box 40 to control the valves within the valve blocks 62 and 63' so as to cause the pumps within the pump block 60 to supply fluid at controlled rates to actuate the elevation motor 30 and the train motor 65. The automatic computing mechanism automatically sets into the follow-up valves the proper deflection so that the gun is caused to be displaced from the line of sight in train and elevation the correct amount for causing the projectile to hit the moving target.

The train shaft 95 is driven through bevelled gears 96 by a flexible train shaft 91 which, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, is located on the outside of the control box 40 and is driven through bevelled gears 96 from a shaft 99 carrying a pinion I00 meshing with the stationary rack 61 on the frame ring 68. The free end of the flexible shaft 9! and the shaft 99 are mounted on a bracket I02 which is attached to the frame II of the turret and rotates therewith, so that the train of the turret, which corresponds to the bearing of the gun (Bg), is fed by the shaft 91 into the train shaft 95 of the computing mechanism.

The range is set into the shaft I by a range 70 the range tape I produced by movement in elevation of the box 40.

The range tape I65, as shown in Fig. 4, passes around idler pulleys I98 and engages a pulley I99 which is loosely mounted about the trunnion 44. A second idler pulley 200, which is attached to the first idler pulley I99, is engaged by a belt 20I passing around a belt pulley 202 which, as

shown in Fig. 1, is mounted on a bracket 203 carried by the inner bracket 2|. The belt pulley 202 is operated by a link 204 which is pinned to the pulley 202 by a pin 205. The link 204 engages a bell crank lever 206 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is mounted on the inner bracket 2| and is actuated by a link 201 attached to a foot pedal 208 in 'a position to be operated by the foot of the gunner. A pair of foot pedals 208 and 209 are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which are connected by a shaft 2I0 and gears 2 to be actuated in opposite directions so that as one foot is elevated the other foot: is depressed. In this way an accurate control is obtained as the operation of the foot pedals is not influenced by the jars to which the gunner may be subjected. The range belt I65 is thus operated through the linkages above mentioned by the foot pedals 208 and 209 by an amount which the gunner determines from the range finder included in the mechanism of box 40.

Elevation is fed into an elevation shaft 220 by an elevation pulley 22I actuated by the elevation tape I69. The tape I69 passes around the pulley 222 which is concentric with pivot 48 and is fixed to the link 41 (Fig. 4) to be actuated by pivotal movement of said link.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, 'it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various adaptations as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. The invention is only to be limited in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a range computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and including an adjusting shaft displaced from said axis, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis, transmission means transmitting movement from said pulley to said shaft, a contrplcnn dal, a range link actuated by said pedalfand transmission means transmitting movement of said link to said pulley.

2. In a range computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse hori-- zontal axis and including an adjusting shaft displaced from said axis, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis, transmission means transmitting movement from said pulley to said shaft, a control pedal, a range link actuated by said. pedal, a pulley actuated by said link, and a belt interconnecting said pulleys for actuating said adjusting shaft in response to movement of said control pedal while permitting said elevational movement of said housing.

3. In a range computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and including an adjusting shaft displaced from said axis, an idler pulley mounted ,for rotation about said axis, transmission means transmitting movement from said pulley to said 'shaft, a control pedal, a range link actuated by said pedal, a second pulley mounted for rotation ,about a fixed axis, said link being pivoted to said second pulley to actuate the same in response to longitudinal movement of said link, and a belt interconnecting said pulleys for actuating said dlimiillwil HUUI adjusting shaft in response to movement of said control pedal While permitting said elevational movement of said housing.

4. In a range computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and including an adjusting shaft displaced from said axis, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis a range,tapedriving said adjusting shaft from said idler pulley, a control pedal, a range link actuated by said pedal, a second pulley mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said link being pivoted to said second pulley to actuate the same in response to longitudinal movement of said link, and a belt interconnecting said pulleys for actuating said adjusting shaft in response to movement of said control pedal, while permitting said elevational movement of said housing.

5. In a range compfier, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and including an adjusting shaft displaced from said axis, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis, transmission means transmitting movement from said pulley to said shaft, a control pedal, a range link actuated by said pedal, transmission means transmitting movement of said link to said pulley, and means compensating for the movement of said first transmission means produced by elevational movement of said housing about said axis.

6. In a range computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and including an adjusting shaft displaced from said axis, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis, a range tape driving said adjusting shaft from said idler pulley, a control pedal, a range link actuated by said pedal, a second pulley mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said link being pivotzd to said second pulley to actuate the same in response to longitudinal movement of said link, a belt interconnecting said pulleys for actuating said adjusting shaft in response to movement of said control pedal, while permitting said elevational movement of said housing, and means compensating for the movement of said range tape produced by elevational movement of said housing about said axis.

7. In a range computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and including an adjusting shaft displaced from said axis, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis, a range tape driving said adjusting shaft from said idler pulley, a control pedal, a range link actuated by said pedal, a

second pulley mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said link being pivoted to said second pulley to actuate the same in response to longitudinal movement of said link, a belt interconnecting said pulleys for actuatin said adjusting shaft in response to movement of said control pedal while permitting said elevational movement of said housing, an elevation tape moveable in response to elevational movement of said housing about said axis, and differential means actuated by said range tape and by said elevation tape to compensate for movement of said range tape produced by said elevational movement so that said adjusting shaft is responsive only to actuation of said pedal.

8. In a computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and carrying a range shaft displaced from said axis to set range into said computer, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis, a range tape driving said range shaft from said idler pulley, a second pulley mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, manual control means to actuate said second pulley, a belt interconnecting said pulleys for actuating said range shaft in response to movement of said manual control means, while permitting said elevational movement of said housing, an elevation tape moveable in response to elevational movement of said housing about said axis, and differential means actuated by said range tape and by said elevation tape to compensate for movement of said range tape produced by said elevational movement so that said adjusting shaft is responsive only to actuation of said manual control means.

9. In a mechanical computer, a housing mounted for movement in elevation about a transverse horizontal axis and carrying a range shaft displaced from said axis to set range into said computer, an idler pulley mounted for rotation about said axis, a range tape driving said range shaft from said idler pulley, a control pedal, a range link actuated by said pedal, a second pulley mounted for rotation about a fixed axis, said link being pivoted to said pulley to actuate the same in response to longitudinal movement of said link, a belt interconnecting said pulleys for actuating said range shaft in response to'movement of said control pedal while permitting said elevational movement of said housing, an elevation tape moveable in response to elevational movement of said housin about said axis, and differential means actuated by said range tape and by said elevation tape to compensate for movement of said range tape produced by said elevational movement so that said adjusting shaft is responsive only to actuation of said pedal.

WILLIAM H. NEWELL. LAWRENCE S. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,156,789 Lough Oct. 12, 1915 1,988,984 Nyberg Jan. 22, 1935 2,339,508 Newell Jan. 18, 1944 2,359,693 Tucker Oct. 3, 1944 2,390,516 Crawford Dec. 11, 1945 2,399,726 Dayle May 9, 1946 2,405,068 Tear et a1 July 30, 1946 2,405,383 Wackett Aug. 6, 1946 2,407,665 Holschuh et a1 Sept. 17, 1946 2,430,747 Trotter Nov. 11, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 505,561 Great Britain May 8, 1939 508,397 Great Britain June 30, 1939 

